A deadly fire tore through Cairo’s Ramses Central data centre, killing four people and injuring 22. The blaze triggered a national communications blackout, cutting off internet, mobile networks, and financial systems. As Egypt recovers, the crisis raises urgent questions about digital resilience in Africa’s most connected economies.
A devastating fire broke out on July 7, 2025, at the Ramses Central data centre in downtown Cairo, a crucial hub for Egypt’s telecommunications infrastructure. The incident claimed four lives and left at least 22 people injured, most suffering from smoke inhalation.
The blaze began on the seventh floor of the 10-story Telecom Egypt building, which serves as a major interconnection point for internet, voice, and data services for the nation’s leading providers.
The fire triggered a cascade of failures across Egypt’s digital backbone. National internet connectivity plummeted to just 62% of typical levels, leaving millions unable to make calls or access the internet, and disrupting both landline and mobile services. The widespread outage disrupted daily life and business operations.
Digital banking services, including credit cards, ATMs, and online transactions, were also disrupted.
The Egyptian Exchange was forced to suspend trading for a day due to the inability to process electronic transactions, while major banks extended their hours and raised withdrawal limits to help customers cope.
Emergency and public services were also affected, with the health department providing alternative numbers for ambulance services because the main hotline was unreachable in some areas.
Airports and media outlets faced logistical issues, although major disruptions were mostly avoided through quick coordination with telecom authorities.
Ramses Central handles more than 40% of Egypt’s domestic and global telecom traffic and contains key switching equipment for routing calls and data.
Its strategic location and role as a primary node in Egypt’s fiber optic network mean that any outage can send shockwaves through multiple sectors, from government ministries to financial institutions and broadcasters.
Initial investigations suggest the fire was likely caused by an electrical short circuit, but the incident exposed deeper vulnerabilities.
The building’s aging infrastructure lacked modern fire suppression and cooling systems, allowing the fire to escalate rapidly.
Over-reliance on a single hub created a single point of failure, making the entire network susceptible to localized disasters. The lack of strong backup systems and alternative routing options further increased the impact, affecting not just Cairo but the whole country.
Egypt’s crisis serves as a stark reminder for other African nations with rapidly growing digital economies. Building more distributed and redundant infrastructure can prevent single points of failure from crippling entire networks.
Upgrading legacy systems with advanced fire suppression, cooling, and cybersecurity measures is essential. Regular risk assessments, disaster recovery drills, and investments in backup systems are critical for national security and economic stability.
Egyptian authorities have pledged to restore services and compensate affected users, with restoration efforts already underway.
The incident has sparked urgent discussions about the need for greater digital resilience, not just in Egypt but across Africa’s most connected economies.
The Ramses Central fire is a wake-up call for governments and businesses across the continent to prioritize digital resilience, invest in infrastructure modernization, and ensure that the backbone of their digital economies can withstand both physical and cyber threats.
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